Electric Scooters Are Legal… Sort Of

There’s a lot of discussion about whether or not electric scooters (e-scooters) are legal. While electric scooters are legal in the UK, there are restrictions surrounding them. For example, it’s legal to buy an e-scooter, but it’s not yet legal to ride it on a public road, cycle lane or pavement across most of the UK (more on that later). Just because you see people doing just that, doesn’t mean they’re doing so legally. On private land, anything goes. Right now, the government is running trials of e-scooters, but for the moment, riding one illegally could land you with a fine or even penalty points on your licence. Yikes.

It Can Be An Investment

True, e-scooters could help you cut down the amount of time you spend commuting and parking, but the upfront cost isn’t to be ignored. Even an entry-level e-scooter can cost you £100 while a top-end version can go for as much as £2,500-£3,000. Prices may drop as it becomes more mainstream, but at the moment they’re not proving any cheaper than a season ticket or car insurance.

You Can Rent If You Don’t Fancy Buying

From 7th June 2021, e-scooters have become available to rent in a small number of London boroughs. Londoners can now legally use e-scooters on public roads – but only slowly. E-scooters will be limited to a maximum of 12.5mph, 3mph slower than in the rest of the UK, and the scheme will only operate in a few parts of central, south and west London. Three operators – Tier, Lime and Dott – were chosen by Transport for London (TfL) to run the trial service. As well as having a lower speed limit, the scooters will also have to have their lights permanently on, with users asked to complete a safety lesson before their first rental.

Speed Isn’t As Important As Power

An underpowered e-scooter won’t be able to cope with even slight slopes – so it’s worth doing some research on power, not just speed range. Think of it this way: no-one buys a car according to its speed, but rather the motor capability. Similarly, the heart of any e-scooter is its motor, which can range from an output of 250W to 350W. The more powerful the motor, the more easily you’ll be able to tackle different terrain.

They Can Be Heavy – And Not All Are Waterproof

Just because a scooter collapses down doesn’t mean it isn’t heavy. Many weigh around 15kg – the equivalent of more than 10 laptops – so carrying them more than just a short distance might be too much work. Finally, almost all e-scooters claim a ‘splash-proof’ IP54 rating, which is designed to make them rideable in the rain. However, the UK weather probably calls for something a little more robust. Cue the IP65 rating, which is more suitable for riding in heavy rain. Just bear in mind you will pay more for an e-scooter with an IP65 rating. Plus, it won’t make riding it in the rain any easier.

A quick buyers’ guide from the team at Halfords…

Some of the key factors to consider when buying an e-scooter.

Price

“You can expect to pay a little more for an e-scooter than a conventional push one, although you can still pick up a decent e-scooter without breaking the bank. The price ultimately depends on what level of features you’re looking for. An all-out off-roader with a higher top speed, long battery life, brakes and suspension is going to set you back more than a basic model that just focuses on a battery and motor.”

Range

“The capacity of your scooter’s battery and where you’re planning to ride will influence how far you can travel on a single charge. If you’re only going to be making short journeys, then a smaller and more cost-effective battery may meet your requirements. On the other hand, if you want to ride for hours without having to recharge, or your route includes a lot of hills, then it may be worth investing in a larger battery.”

Motor Power

“If you want to zip along and tackle hills with ease, then go for an e-scooter with a powerful motor. Many of the scooters that we stock can reach speeds of 15mph, although it’s important to bear in mind that faster speeds require greater concentration, and it may be sensible to invest in more protective equipment than just a helmet.”

Weight

"If you’re going to be carrying your scooter for any length of time, then it’s worth taking the weight into consideration. Some models are more lightweight and easier to fold than others, making them more suited for transporting and storing.”

Suspension, Brakes & Tyres

"Just like normal scooters, choosing an e-scooter should involve checking over the specs. A fun, low-speed scooter will likely require less high-spec kit than an off-road e-scooter with chunky tyres and full suspension, so have a think about where the scooter is going to be ridden – decent brakes could be the difference between stopping in time, especially if you’re going for a higher-powered motor.”